Make Fertilizer Faster By Building The Ultimate Compost Bin

Successful organic gardeners rely on compost to improve soil fertility and moisture management, nourish helpful microbes, and inoculate against destructive ones. This three-bin system is a compost factory that efficiently pumps out heaps of finished black gold in weeks, rather than the months you would typically wait during a more hands-off approach. Made from rot-resistant cedar, our ultimate compost bin features removable front planks and a clean look that allows for plenty of air movement. And best of all, you can build it in just a few hours. Here's how to make it:

7. To make grooves for removable planks, lay panels flat. Allow one plank’s thickness (plus a little), and attach the plank supports to the side slots, leaving a plank in place as a guide.

Making the Middle Panels

(Build these panels as you did the end panels, with a few exceptions.)

1. Repeat steps 1 and 2 above.

2. Flip the panels and fasten three more side slats on the other side of both middle panels.

3. The front and back supports must be centered perpendicular to the uprights.

4. Attach the bottom pieces, being careful to screw into the side slats. Use the 2½ inch screws.

5. As with the side panels, create grooves for planks by attaching plank supports to the uprights.

6. Do this on both faces of the two middle panels, as shown.

Putting It All Together

1. Balance the panels on their front supports. Attach the three 12 foot back slats to both end panel back supports.

2. Measure 49 inches from each end to mark where the middle panels will go. Attach the middle panels with screws, centering marks on back supports.

3. Place a bin with bottom pieces on soil and slide four removable planks into each bin to evenly space front supports.

4. Remove the planks and pound in metal fence posts.

5. Attach the posts.

6. Staple wire netting to the insides of each bin.

7. Replace the removable planks and you’re done!

How to work the three-bin system:

Fill the first bin with compostables. When it's full, turn the contents into the second bin every few days (the more often you turn it, the faster the decomposition will occur). Begin filling the third bin with fresh materials. When the third bin is full, the second bin is “finished,” and the first bin is empty, allowing you to start the process over.